Cape Town Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 [Day 2] – Gavin Rajah

If you were after sexy, elegance and luxury; Gavin Rajah’s S/S ’13 collection gave all of that plus more – those were just some of the key elements at Gavin Rajah’s show. The collection, themed ‘Luminescent Luxury‘ was inspired by the ‘love poetry of Boccaccio, the language of flowers and the 1950s La Dolce vita mood of Italy‘. The designer took craftsmanship to a whole new level, unmissable ground-breaking tailoring and strict attention to detail was observed with each emerging piece.

Lacing and intricate beading using warm toned fabrics for shift dresses, modern peplum inspired numbers and floor length pieces – 50s inspired necklines observed as well as a few plunging necklines here and there. The designer played around with a lot of scattered patterning particularly on the see through pieces; Full on mesh-sheer with dotted beading on shoulders, waists or hemlines or even better with colour significant embroidery meet intricate beading leveled as if it were an outlay on the transparent pieces. When it was not a sheer yoke cocktail stunner or a black lace shift, it was computer programmed florals on silk tailored into shirt dresses and slouchy maxis.

We thought we had experienced the best that there was at the Gavin Rajah show until we saw the “marriage” of silk and lace in plunging neck-lined relaxed kimonos. Belted trenches and animal inspired sheath dresses were infused into the collection, a lot of whites and some with strategic color infusion; funnel sleeves, hi-lo hemlines as well crocheted hemlines. In the light, the designer threw in yellows, peachy pinks and turquoise ; a bit of sugar, spice and everything nice. The designer was kind enough to also show his couturing skillswith white numbers laced with black corsages.

The digitally printed ‘Gavin’ silk lady jackets are take home worthy, we’re not sure about the sports luxe inspired, patched elbow silk jackets paired with lace pencil skirts but it did work on the model, so maybe a nod will do for now. In all, the collection focused on femininity with of course a lot of experienced detailing which is most certainly Gavin Rajah’s expertise. LOVE.